Ronaldo declares Messi the GOAT

Brazilian football icon Ronaldo Nazario has hailed Lionel Messi as the greatest player in football history, saying the Argentine superstar’s achievements have made it time for the world to accept his status.

Ronaldo made the remarks after Messi scored his first-ever World Cup hat-trick in Argentina’s 3-0 victory over Algeria in Kansas City on June 16.

The three goals took Messi’s World Cup tally to 16, moving him level with Germany’s Miroslav Klose as the tournament’s joint highest scorer and surpassing Ronaldo’s previous record of 15 goals.

“The time has come for the world to stop hiding and accept the truth: he is the greatest footballer of all time,” Ronaldo told Portuguese sports newspaper A Bola.

The two-time World Cup winner said Messi has continued to prove his ability season after season, across major tournaments and even on the biggest stage of the World Cup.

Ronaldo added that Messi’s performance against Algeria would be remembered as a historic moment in football.

He also said he was not surprised that Messi broke his World Cup scoring record, noting that records are created to be surpassed. He praised Argentina’s position as defending champions heading into the 2026 World Cup.

TZ